This weekend the UFC is live in Abu Dhabi, with an exciting light heavyweight title fight between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira. UFC 267 should be an action-packed card full of excitement. Here I will offer the fights that have the most upside for DFS purposes. Let’s dig into some MMA DFS picks and analysis for UFC 267.
MMA DFS: UFC 267 Blachowicz vs. Teixeira
Tagir Ulanbekov $9,400 vs. Allan Nascimento $6,800
Tagir Ulanbekov
- Age: 30
- Height: 5-foot-6
- Weight: 125 lbs.
- Reach: 70 in.
- Record: 13-1-0
- Striking Accuracy: 37%
- Betting Odds: -350
Ulanbekov lost his Global title to Zhalgas Zhumagulov in a controversial decision. However, he continued the road to the Octagon with three consecutive wins in the Global Fighting Championship. Ulanbekov made his UFC debut against Bruno Silva in October, winning via decision by overpowering Silva. He will be tested by Nascimento in this fight. Ulanbekov will look to get this fight to the mat early and often, racking up a solid DFS score with multiple takedowns.
Allan Nascimento
- Age: 30
- Height: 5-foot-8
- Weight: 125 lbs.
- Reach: 73 in.
- Record: 17-5-0
- Striking Accuracy: 68%
- Betting Odds: +280
Nascimento is a finisher, as 13 of his 17 wins have come via submission. He has the technical prowess to match Ulanbekov on the feet and the grappling to create solid scrambles once this fight hits the mat. Nascimento will look to keep this fight standing , although he has struggled in the past with lesser wrestlers than Ulanbekov. Nascimento has the grit and toughness to make this a battle.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Ulanbekov. However, Nascimento’s toughness and grittiness will make this fight much closer than the oddsmakers are predicting.
UFC DFS Pick: Tagir Ulanbekov via Unanimous Decision.
Hu Yaozong $8,700 vs. Andre Petroski $7,500
Hu Yaozong
- Age: 26
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Reach: 72 in.
- Record: 3-2-0
- Striking Accuracy: 52%
- Betting Odds: -155
Yaozong started his UFC career at heavyweight, where he suffered a submission loss to Cyril Asker. He dropped to light heavyweight for his sophomore effort but came up short in a competitive loss to Rashad Coulter. Now Yaozong will be making his debut at middleweight after nearly a three-year layoff. Yaozong will rely on his kickboxing to damage his opponents. However, Yaozong’s takedown defense is a big weakness in his arsenal. If Yaozong has not been able to shore up his defense during his layoff, then he could be in for a long night against Petroski.
Andre Petroski
- Age: 30
- Height: 6-foot-0
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Reach: 73 in.
- Record: 13-3-0
- Striking Accuracy: 57%
- Betting Odds: +130
Petroski is coming into this matchup off a third-round knockout win over Micheal Gillmore in August. He will be giving up three inches in height but also will have a one-inch reach advantage. All of Petroski’s wins have come via finish — four via knockout and two via submission. Petroski will take full advantage of Yaozong’s pervious struggles, the rust from the extended layoff and another new weight class.
The preferred play on DraftKings and FanDuel is Petroski. This fight will be a clinic on the mat, with Petroski locking up the third submission of his career.
UFC DFS Pick: Andre Petroski via First-Round Submission.
Alexander Volkov $8,900 vs. Marcin Tybura $7,300
Alexander Volkov
- Age: 33
- Height: 6-foot-6
- Weight: 250 lbs.
- Reach: 80 in.
- Record: 33-9-0
- Striking Accuracy: 56%
- Betting Odds: -300
Volkov is fresh off a unanimous decision loss to Ciryl Gane in June. He has high-level kickboxing ability and is one of the best technical strikers in the division. He should be looking to work off his front kick up the middle and maintain his range advantage. Volkov should be looking to use his high-volume combinations and rangy kickboxing to pound Tybura’s body. He has 22 wins via knockout. The key for Volkov is to avoid the big haymaker of Tybura, which can put anyone’s lights out when landed clean.
Marcin Tybura
- Age: 35
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 249 lbs.
- Reach: 78 in.
- Record: 22-6-0
- Striking Accuracy: 50%
- Betting Odds: +240
Tybura is a well-rounded tough fighter with a solid gas tank. He seems to do his best work when the fight hits the mat. Tybura will need to use front kicks to be able to close the distance while looking for the clinch. Tybura will look to get this fight to the mat, changing levels and trying to get Volkov off balance to drag him to the canvas. Tybura is currently riding a five-fight winning streak, with three wins via decision and two via knockout.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Volkov. He will have a dominant bounce-back performance and possibly a Fight of the Night bonus.
UFC DFS Pick: Alexander Volkov via Second-Round KO/TKO.
Petr Yan $8,800 vs. Cory Sandhagen $7,400
Petr Yan
- Age: 28
- Height: 5-foot-6
- Weight: 135 lbs.
- Reach: 67 in.
- Record: 15-2-0
- Striking Accuracy: 52%
- Betting Odds: -275
Yan has one of the cleanest boxing styles in the UFC. When stepping into the Octagon Yan always has a massive advantage in striking, being able to change stances from orthodox to southpaw effectively. He has seven wins via knockout, one via submission and seven via decision. Yan will need use his boxing to get inside while trying to avoid Sandhagen’s dangerous kicks.
Cory Sandhagen
- Age: 29
- Height: 5-foot-9
- Weight: 135 lbs.
- Reach: 70 in.
- Record: 14-3-0
- Striking Accuracy: 47%
- Betting Odds: +220
Sandhagen is an extremely dangerous striker with spectacular finishes. He is coming into this matchup off a disappointing loss to T.J. Dillashaw in July. Prior to this loss, Sandhagen brutally knocked out Marion Moraes and former lightweight champion Frankie Edger. Sandhagen will use nasty kicks, flying knees and powerful punches to badly damage his opponents. Sandhagen will come out aggressive and push the pace early and often.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Sandhagen. However, this is a highly anticipated fight, and it will be interesting to see which one of these dangerous strikers leaves the Octagon as the winner.
UFC DFS Pick: Cory Sandhagen via Fourth-Round KO/TKO.
Jan Blachowicz $9,000 vs. Glover Teixeira $7,200
Jan Blachowicz
- Age: 38
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 205 lbs.
- Reach: 78 in.
- Record: 28-8-0
- Striking Accuracy: 49%
- Betting Odds: -275
Blachowicz is coming into this matchup off an impressive decision win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 259. He also had an impressive second-round knockout of Dominick Reyes at UFC 253. He has massive power in both hands and nasty ground and pound. Blachowicz has eight wins via knockout, nine via submission and 10 wins via decision. He is finally getting some respect for the first time being a -275 favorite over Glover Teixeira. Blachowicz will look to keep this fight on the feet and make it a striking battle. Blachowicz will have a huge power advantage, though his one weakness is takedown defense which is only 65% in his UFC career.
Glover Teixeira
- Age: 41
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 205 lbs.
- Reach: 76 in.
- Record: 33-7-0
- Striking Accuracy: 47%
- Betting Odds: +225
Teixeira is currently riding a five-fight winning streak, with two coming via submission over Ion Cutelaba and Karl Roberson. Teixeira also had a split-decision win over Nikita Krylov and a huge knockout victory over Anthony Smith back in May. The wins over Smith and the submission victory over Cutelaba won Teixeira performance bonuses. At 41 years old, Teixeira has been on fire and battled himself back to another UFC title shot. Teixeira will look to get this fight to the mat and will be looking to lock in a submission. His dangerous submission game is his best path to victory over powerful striker like Blachowicz. Teixeira is a live dog in this fight and could get the finish if he gets the fight to the mat.
The lean on DraftKings and FanDuel is Blachowicz. If Blachowicz can stuff Teixeira’s takedowns and keep this fight standing, he could get the knockout finish.
UFC DFS Pick: Jan Blachowicz via Second-Round KO/TKO.
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